American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Technologist in Cytogenetics certification (ASCP CG) Practice Test

Colagenase, pronase, and trypsin are classified as what type of enzymes?

1. Oxidative enzymes

2. Hydrolases

3. Proteolytic enzymes

4. Ligases

The correct answer is: Proteolytic enzymes

The correct classification for collagenase, pronase, and trypsin is that they are proteolytic enzymes. Proteolytic enzymes, also known as proteases, are responsible for the breakdown of proteins into smaller peptides or amino acids by catalyzing the hydrolysis of peptide bonds. Collagenase specifically targets collagen, a major protein found in connective tissues, breaking it down for various biological processes. Pronase is a broad-spectrum protease that can digest a variety of proteins, while trypsin is a serine protease that primarily acts on the peptide bonds formed by the amino acids lysine and arginine. Understanding this classification is important in fields such as cytogenetics and molecular biology, as these enzymes are often used to prepare samples or facilitate processes like cell culture or tissue digestion. The other enzyme categories mentioned, such as oxidative enzymes, hydrolases, and ligases, do not accurately describe the primary function of collagenase, pronase, and trypsin. Hydrolases encompass a broader category, which includes proteases, but the more specific term for these particular enzymes is proteolytic. Ligases, on the other hand, are enzymes that join two molecules together, which is distinctly different from the function